Presses for the extraction of oils, fats and the like



5 sneets-she'et 1 A. J. POWELL PRESSES FOR THE EXTRACTION OF' OILS, FATSANO THE LIKE April 15, 195s Filed March 4 1952 f 5 HHWH a Q N\ Q e .w,i111 iii x lx I 513i U O K f f| RN mw \w\ mw \m\ SGS NQ E 1. mm

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April l5, 1958 A. J. POWELL PRESSES FOR THE EXTRACTION OF' OILS, FATSAND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1952 @Wl Ulli IIIIl nmimlllllllllllllllllllllllllIITIIHI; l" HNMilllllllIIIIHIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIN|\llllzmlUllllllllMllllllllllllllwlIIIVI um mi Zin/U @J2/"wf Lf Pow eZLZ/April 15, 1958 A. J. POWELL PRESSES FOR THE EXTRACTION OF' OILS, FATSAND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 1952 April 15, 1958 A. J. POWELL PRESSES FORTHEY EXTRACTION OF OILS, FATS AND THE LIKE Filed March 4. 1952 5Sheets-Shea?I 4 In@ ezzrto JPOq/@ZL April 15, 1958 A. J. POWELL2,830,530

PRESSES FOR THE EXTRACTION 0F OILS, FATS AND LIKE Filed urch 4. 1952 5sheets-sheet 5 ALAN JAMES POWELL ATTORNEY' United States Patenti()PRESSES FUR THE EXTRACTION OF OILS, FATS AND THE LIKE This inventionrelates to presses for the extraction of oils and fats from organic andother materials, such as oil bearing seeds, animal tissues, cracklingsand the like.

The presses usually employed for this purpose embody a hydraulicramarranged to reciprocate in a cylindrical curb the wall of which isformed with apertures through which the expressed liquid is discharged,the end of the curb remote from the ram being normally' closed by arelatively movable closure member whereby the curb may be opened topermit the supply and discharge of solid material thereto and therefrom.In some cases the curb is loaded manually with the successive batches ofmaterial to be compressed, while in other cases the loading operation isperformed mechanically under manual control.

ln either case the cycle of operations is controlled manually andtherefore requires the constant attendance of an operator. Thus the costof the operation is materially increased by the operator while, inaddition, the output and the efficiency of the operation is largelydependent upon his industry and skill.

It is also known to express oils and fats from organic materials incontinuous automatic presses of the extrusion type, but while suchpresses do not require the constant attendance of an operator, theeiiiciency of extraction in such presses is lower than that obtained inthe batch type of press previously mentioned.

The general object of the present invention is to provide improvementsin and relating to oil-and fat extraction presses of the aforesaid batchtype, while one particular object thereof is to provide such a pressadapted for automatic operation.

Another specific object is to provide such a press wherein the timeofeach cycle may be readily regulated.

Still another object is to provide an automatic press of simple andconvenient construction and having a simpliticd control system thereof.

Accordingly, the invention broadly resides in a press comprising acylindrical curb, a reciprocable plunger arranged coaxially with thecurb to operate therein, said plunger when fully retracted beingwithdrawn from the adjacent end of the curb to permit the delivery tothe latter of the material to be pressed, and a reciprocable closuremember arranged coaxially with the curb to coact with the oppositedischarge end thereof, such closure member being retractible to enablethefcompressed material to be expelled from the curb by furtherprojecting said plunger.

The plunger preferably comprises a hydraulic pressing` ram, piston andclosure member preferably 4forms the head ofa second hydraulic which is`opposed to the pressing ram, and one feature of the invention residesin the construction wherein said closure ram piston is of smallercross-sectional area than the pressing ram pistou whereby when both ramsare subjected to the same hy` draulic pressure, theclosure ram pistonwill be forced towards its retracted position by the greater pressure ofthe larger pressing ram piston.

The loading end of the curb communicates with a filling chamber and thelat-ter is preferably associated with mechanical feeding means for thematerial to be treated.

The movements of the ram and closure pistons are controlled oy valvesand an important feature of the invention resides in actuating saidvalves automatically in sequence by suitable control means, such as byconstantly rotating cams.

The curb and rams are preferably arranged horizontally in which case thefilling chamber is preferably arranged at the lower end of a hopper forthe material to be treated.

Therefore, the invention particularly resides in an ex- V traction pressof the type having a vertically directed feed opening communicating witha casing defining a cylindrical compression chamber located under thefeed opening. Aram piston is mounted to be reciprocated horizontally ina ram cylinder and across the compression chamber. A closure piston ismounted` to be reciprocated horizontally in a closure cylindercolinearly with the ram piston and in confronting relation therewith.The-horizontal casing includes a cylindrical curb, the wall of which isapertured for the discharge of expressed liquid and the curb portion ofthe casing has a discharge opening adapted to be closed by the closurepiston. Means are provided adapted to collect discharge solid matter andextracted or expressed liquid. The closure piston has a conical head fora purpose set forth hereafter and a hydraulic system is provided foractuating the pistons, the system including conduit means connecting thecylinders to a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, to a pump adapted tosupply hydraulic pressure for the conduit means and to controllablevalves with which are associated control means adapted to control theoperation of the pistons. The ram piston has a flange on the end thereofopposite the ram portion thereof and the ram cylinder has a port,thereinwhereby hydraulic pressure may be applied against the end of the rampiston and to the end of the flange to move the ram piston to eifectcompression of matter fed into the compression chamber. The ram cylinderhas a second port through which hydraulic pressure may be applied onlyto the end of the flange extending radially outwardly of the ram pistonso that the ram piston may be withdrawn from the compression chamber.The ram cylinder, ram piston and compression chamber each have a lengthsuch that the ram piston may extend partly in the ram cylinder andcompletely through the compression chamber to discharge matter therefromand so that the apex portion of the conical head of the closure pistonmay bre'ak up discharged solid matter against the head of the ram pistonoutside the compression chamber.

For the ensuing more particular description of a practical embodiment ofthe invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of a hydraulic press and showsdiagrammatically the control valves and actuating mechanism therefor,

Figure 2 is a view in plan of the press the hopper assembly and thepump, liquid reservoir, and conduit means of Figure l being omitted.

- Figure 3 is a view in plan of the control valves and actuating meanstherefor,

Figure 4 .is a view similar to Figure l and shows another stage in theoperation of the press,

,Y thereof,

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the timing of the several control camsembodied in the press,

Figure 7 is a view in sectional elevation and shows a modification ofthe invention,

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic perspective View partly in sectionillustrating the control cams and the means controlled thereby for thecycle of operation shown in Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a side elevational view illustrating adjustable controlcams, and

Figure l is a sectional view taken on lines 10-10 of Figure 9 andillustrating one of the adjustable earns in front elevation and thefollower associated therewith.

The press shown in Figures l, 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings comprises acasing structure C that defines a cylindrical .compression or compactingchamber including a cylindrical curb. generally designated 10 which isopen at each end and arranged horizontally above a receptacle 11 forcollecting expressed oil or the like, the said curb being secured to asuitable support. A receptacle R (see Figure l) is located adjacent toand beneath the outer or discharge end of the curb and is adapted tocollect or receive discharged solid matter.

The curb is constructed in any convenient or usual manner and preferablycomprises a` plurality of closely spaced longitudinal bars 10 arrangedon edge and surrounded by spaced circumferential reinforcing rings 1()2capable of withstanding the pressure of the material compressed withinthe curb.

One end of the curb abuts against and communicates freely with acoaxially disposed filling chamber portion 12 of casing C arranged belowa hopper 13 for the material to be treated, and a cylindrical dischargethroat 13 for this hopper is fitted with a suitable feeding device suchas the vertically disposed Archimedean screw 14, forcing the materialdownwardly into said filling chamber 'portion 12 through a verticallydirected feed opening and thence into the curb 10 as hereafterdescribed. A scraper arm 14' is secured as shown to the screw 14 toprevent the material from sticking to the wall of the hopper.

The feeding device in the form of the screw 14 is secured to the lowerend of a central vertical spindle 15 and is arranged to be operated atappropriate times by an electric motor 16 controlled in the mannerhereafter set forth.

A relatively long double acting hydraulic cylinder 17 (hereafter termedthe pressing ram cylinder) abuts at its open end that end ofthe fillingchamber which is remote from the curb and this cylinder is fitted with aslidable pressing ram piston 18 adapted when projected forwardly toextend through the filling chamber portion 12 into the curb.

The pressingram piston 18 isprovided at its rear end with a somewhatenlarged plunger head or flange 18 which engages the wall of thecylinder 17 and is packed in any suitable manner so as to form afluid-tight seal, while the opposite forward end of the cylinder isprovided with an annular packing gland 19 through which the ram pistonextends towards the curb as above described.

When the ram piston 18 is'fully retracted to its rear position as shownin Figure lp, it is withdrawn almost completely from the filling chamber12 to enable .the material to be treated to pass freely thereinto fromthe hopper and thence from said filling chamber into the.

curb. When the ram piston is fully projected, it extends substantiallyto, that is, at least flush -with and possibly beyond the opposite ordischarge end of the curb as.

shown in Figure 5.

The closed rear end ofthe cylinder 17 is connected by a pipe 20 to avalve 21 which is operable automatically as hereafter described tovconnect the cylinder'successively -to a discharge pipeL21-`and to asupply `pipe 22 for oil or other liquid under pressure, while-the narrowannular space 23 surrounding the ram piston within the forward end ofthe cylinder is permanently connected to said supply pipe 22. The supplypipe 22 is connected to the delivery port of a pump 24 arranged to beoperated by an electric motor 25 or otherwise.

Thus when the pump 24 is operating, the liquid forced through pipe 22and into cylinder 17 through the lateral port in the cylinder wall actson the forward face of head 18 to normally and continuously urge the ram18 to its rear end position, Figure 1. As shown, the other pressurereceiving face of head 18' is of greater cross sectional area, thus whenfiuid under the same pressure is supplied via pipe 20 to the closed endof cylinder 17 against the head 18', the ram is moved toward its forwardposition, that is, it moves to the left as viewed in the drawings.

In the particular arrangement diagrammatically illustrated in Figure lof the drawings, the inlet port of the pump 24 isconnected by a pipe 24'to an oil reservoir 26 to which the discharge pipe 21 of the controlvalve 21 is also connected while a relief valve 27 in the supply pipe 22enables the oil to return directly to the reservoir if the deliverypressure exceeds a predetermined value.

A second hydraulic cylinder 23 (hereafter termed the closure or abutmentram cylinder) arranged colinearly with curb 10 and opposite the forwardend of the latter, is fitted with a slidable ram or piston 29 (hereaftertermed the abutment ram or a closure piston) which extends rearwardlytowards the curb and is provided at its free end with an enlarged head29 adapted when said piston 29 is fully projected to a forward positionto abut against and form a closure for said discharge end of the curb.This closure head 29' has a conical outer end 292, which serves to breakup the compressed cake of solid matter Outside of 'the curb when thesolid matter is being discharged as hereafter described.

The cylinders 17 and 28 are secured together by longitudinally extendingtie bolts 40 which also support the intermediately disposed curb 10 andfilling chamber portion 12 as shown in Figure 2.

The cylinder 28 is relatively short in length and has its closed innerend connected by a pipe 30 to one port of a valve 31. A diametricallyopposed port of said valve 31 is connected to the aforesaid supply pipe22 for the liquid under pressure. This valve is adapted in one positionthereof to connect the supply pipe 22 to the closure cylinder 28, asshown in Figure 5 and in another position thereof, shown in Figures land 4 to close the connecting pipe 30 so as to prevent the discharge ofliquid from the cylinder and thereby prevent retracting movements of theclosure piston 255.

The valves 21 and 31 are 'operated repeatedly in sequence by actuatingmeans which in the illustrated embodiment comprise a cam shaft 32arranged to be rotated Continuously at a uniform but regulatable speed,by electric motor driven gearing 81, the time of each completerevolution of the cam shaft 32 being the period of each cycle ofoperation of the press.

This cam shaft 32, as shown in Figures 3 and 8, is fitted with twospaced valve operating cams 33 and 34 of which the latter is arranged tooperate the aforesaid valve 21 for controlling the operation of thepressing ram or piston 18 while the other cam 33 operates the valve 3lwhich controls the operation of the abutment ram or closure piston. Thecam shaft 32 is illustrated only diagrammatically in Figure 8.

The electric motor 16 for driving the screw feeder 14 is controlled -bya plunger type switch diagrammatically indicated at 35 in Figure 3, suchswitch being opened and closed at the requisite times by a cam 36 on thecam yshaft 32.

The valves 21 and 31 may be of any suitable type and, for convenience ofillustration, are represented in the f' drawings "as semi-rotary plugvalt/es, while likewise asso-,53o

the cams for operating said valves and the feed motorv control switchmay be of any convenient type and so are merely shown diagrammaticallyin Figure 3 as plate cams.

The cam 34 being preferably formed so that the corresponding valve 21 isactuated one or more times during the operation of tilling the curb,`whereby the pressing piston 18 is reciprocated to tamp and compact thematerial progressively supplied to the curb while the abutment ram orclosure member 29 is held'by fluid pressure against the cake dischargeopening of the curb. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the times ofoperation of the said valves and switch throughout each cycle ofoperation.

In operation the cam shaft 32 is rotated continuously and at thecommencement of a cycle the pressing ram piston 18 is fully retracted toits rear position while the abutment ram or closure piston 29 `is fullyprojected to forward position so that the conical head 292 is inengagement with the adjacent discharge end of the curb as shown inFigure 1. At this stage, see Figures 6 and 8, the valve 31 is closed sothat the oil contained within the closure cylinder 28 cannot escapetherefrom, with the result that the closure ram 29 is locked in its saidfully projected operative position.

As the pressing ram piston 18 is fully retracted at this time, the rearend of the corresponding cylinder 17 is connected to the reservoir 26 bythe respective cam operated valve 21, so that the pressing ram piston isheld in its retracted position by the liquid in the narrow annular space23 around the ram piston and within the cylinder and which as previouslyexplained is always maintained under pressure throughout the cycle.

At this time also, the switch 35 for the driving motor 16 for the screw14 in the hopper 13 is closed, so that this screw is operating t`o forcethe material to be treated downwardly from the hopper into the fillingchamber piston 12 and from the latter into the curb 10. As the cam shaftcontinues to rotate, the valve 31 remains closed and the valve 21 isopened so that liquid underpressure passes into the outer end of thecylinder 17 and operates on the outer face of head 18 of the pressingram piston. The force then acting on the ram piston 18 for moving itforwardly, that is, to the left of the drawing is considerably greaterthan the force acting against the face or end of flange 18 extendingradially outwardly of the ram piston. This is due to the differentcross-sectional areas of the head or flange 18' establishingdiiferential hydraulic pressure conditions so that the ram piston 18commences its forward projecting movement. This projecting movement ofthe ram piston may continue without interruption' until the material isfully compressed but preferably the ram is reciprocated several timesthrough a short distance to tamp or compact the material within the curband thereby assure that the same is sufficiently iilled before thepressing operation is completed. For this purpose the screw 14 isoperated each time the ram piston is retracted to uncover the dischargethroat of the hopper.

These tamping movements of the pressing ram piston are eifected byactuating the valve 21 so las to place the outer end of the ram cylinder17 into communication with pressure and exhaust alternately at shortintervals of time, the operating cam 34 being suitably shaped, seeFigure 8, for this purpose. Thus the timing diagram, Figure 6, shows twosuch tampingmovements.

Likewise the cam 36 for operating the switch 35 for the screw drivingmotor 16 is appropriately shapedand arranged relatively to the cam 34 toswitch the lmotor on and off as required and as indicated in Figure 8.

After the casing and curb have been lled as described, fluid underpressure is supplied for an appreciable period to the outer end of theram cylinder 17, so that the pressing ram piston moves continuouslyforward, that is to the left in the drawing the material enclosed withinthe curb being thus subjected to pressure, whereby the fat or oilcontent isexpressed therefrom and is discharged through the periphery ofthe curb into thereceptacle 11. Y Figure 4 shows 'the position of thepressing ram piston as it completes its pressing or projecting stroke,the length of which is of course determined byv the compressibility ofthe material.

Throughout this time the valve 31 controlling fluid llow to the closurecylinder 28 of the abutment ram or piston 29 has remained in its closedposition, so that such ram has been locked in its fully projected orforward position to close the discharge opening or left hand end of thecurb, and withstand the pressure exerted by the pressing ram piston 18.When, however, the material in the curb has been subjected to pressurefor a predetermined period the valve 31 is opened by means of thecorresponding cam 33, so as to re-establish communication betweenthecylinder 28 and the supply pipe 22. The abutment ram piston is thensubjected to the same intensity of pressure as the pressing ram piston,but as the abutment ram piston is of smaller cross-sectional area, it isforced towards its retracted or rear position, by the relatively greatertotal pressure of the pressing ram piston 18 transmitted through theinterposed cake of compressed material.

Accordingly, when the valve 31 is opened, the pressing ram pistoncontinues its projecting movement, whereby the compressed cake ofmaterial, substantially free of oil or fat, is expelled through thedischarge end of the curb, and broken up against the conical head of theabutment ram or closure piston, which though retracted, is maintainedunder pressure. The discharged material is forced outwardly in movingover the conical head of the closureV piston 29 and is broken therebyinto fragments which fall into the receptacle R as shown in Figure 5.

After the pressing ram piston 18 has been fully projected to dischargeand break-up the compressed material or solid matter outside the curb orcompression chamber as shown in Figure 5, the control valve 21 isoperated by the associated cam 34 to connect the outer end of therespective cylinder 17 to the reservoir 26. Thus the ram piston 18 isretracted by the constant pressure of theA liquid within the inner endof the cylinder 17, while at the same time the closure piston 29, whichis still subjected to the pressure of the liquid in the left-hand end ofits cylinder, againmoves forwardly to its fully projected position so asto engage and close the solid matter discharge opening at the left-handend of the curb, following which the control valve 31 is again closed tolock said closure piston in its projected position, thereby completingone cycle of operation.

Figure 8 discloses the shape of cams 34, 33 and 35 which respectivelyactuate the valves 21 and 31 and switch 35. Valve 21 is actuated by aconventional carn follower mechanism reciprocating responsive to thehigh and low areas of cam 34. This follower mechanism includes afollower roller 50, carried by rod 51 which is guided for reciprocationin a guide 52. The rod is coupled to linkage 53 for rocking the valvebody 54 to the right against the action of spring 55 when the follower50 rides up a high portion of the earn. Valve 31 is similarly actuatedsince rod 61, movable through guide 62, is moved responsive to theengagement of follower roller 6i) with the cam 33. The spring 65normally urges valve body 64 to move to closed position.

The switch 35 is actuated by the cooperation of cam 36 with switchplunger 70. As is conventional in such switches the plunger is springurged outwardly and to circuit breaking position, thus as shown theswitch is on since the plunger is on a high area of cam 36.

Figure 9 (and l0) illustrate cams 33' and 3 4' as two-part cams, or camsof relatively adjustable sections whereby the relative periods duringwhich valves 31 and 21 are opened and closed may be varied. Thesecamsinclude xed sections 34j 'and 33] each keyed to camshaft 32' andmovable sections 34mand 33m coupled to the fixed sections for adjustablemovement.

The fixed-section of each cam has diametrically opposite internallythreaded holes 82 therein, while the movable section of each cam has apair of arcuate slots 83 therein. A threaded -bolt 84 passes througheach slot and into threaded engagement with each hole 82. Thus, and asclear from Figure l by backing off bolts 84, section33m can be movedrelative to section 331. The other cam 34' is similarly adjustable andif desired, cam 36 can be similarly constructed. Also the several camsmay be separately adjusted angularly on the cani shaft while the periodof the cycle is also capable of regulation.

If desired, either the pressing ram piston or the closure or abutmentram piston may be provided with an axial extension of relatively smalldiameter which extends axially through the curb and is receivedslidablywithin a corresponding recess or bore `therefor formed axially in theother piston. Figure 7 shows a construction in which the pressing rampiston 18 is formed with an axial extension or rod 182 projectingtherefrom and having its free end received slidably within acorresponding axial hole 791 formed in the hollow abutment ram orclosure piston 79 so that the cake of compressed material producedwithin the curb has a central through hole formed therein with theresult that the maximum radial distance through which the expressed oilmust pass to the periphery of the curb is reduced, whereby a higherefficiency of extraction is obtained at the expense of a comparativelysmall reduction in the capacity of the curb.

Figure 7 also shows a modification of the hydraulic control system forthe closure piston 79. In this moditication, a non-return valve 41 isarranged between the oil pressure pipe 22 and the valve 31Vso that evenwhen the latter is open to pressure as shown in thefigure, the piston 79cannot be forced backwards by the pressure exerted by the ram 18 duringthe compression stroke of the latter. It will be noted also that in thisconstruction the valve 31 has a discharge port which is connected to thedischarge pipe 211 so that upon turning the valve 31 through a 90 turnin a counterclockwise direction from the position shown, this dischargeport communicates with the cylinder 28, the closure piston is forcedrearwardly by means of the pressing ram piston 18. The valve 27, as inFig. l, is a relief valve. It will be evident that when this hydraulicsystem is employed, it is not necessary for the closure piston 79 to beof smaller diameter than the ram piston 18 as the cylinder 2Scommunicates with the reservoir 26 during the retracting movement of theclosure piston. On the other hand, this modified control system has thedisadvantage that the oil displaced by the retraction of the closurepiston 79 is returned to the reservoir 26 instead of to the pressurepipe 22 as in the system shown in Figure 1. The volume of oil thusdischarged in each cycle, however, is small.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In an extraction press of the type having a vertically directed feedopening, a ram piston adapted to be reciprocated horizontally in a ramcylinder across a cylindrical compression chamber located under the feedopening, a closure piston adapted to be reciprocated horizontally in aclosure cylinder colinearly with the ram piston and in confrontingrelation therewith, said closure piston having a conical head, meansadapted to collect discharged'solid matter and means adapted to collectextracted liquid, conduit means connecting said cylinders to a reservoirfor hydraulic uid, to valves including control means thereforadaptedto'control the operation of said pistons and to a pump adapted tosupply hydraulic pressure for saidconduit means, the improvementcomprising a flange on the end of the ram piston opposite the ramportion thereof, said ram cylinder having a port whereby hydraulicpressure may be applied against the end of the ram piston and to the endof the ange to move the ram to effect compression of matter fed into thecompression chamber, said ram cylinder having a second port wherebyhydraulic pressure may be applied only to the end of the flangeextending radially outwardly of the ram piston so that said piston maybe withdrawn from the compression chamber, said ram cylinder, ram pistonand compression chamber each having a length such that the ram pistonmay extend partly in the ram cylinder and completely through thecompression chamber to discharge matter therefrom and so that the apexportion of the conical head of the closure piston may break updischarged solid matter against the head of the ram piston outside thecompression chamber.

2. In an extraction press as claimed in claim 1 and said closure pistonhaving an axially extending bore therein extending rearwardly from itsconical head, said ram piston having a rod extending forwardly of theouter end thereof and said rod being reciprocable in the bore in theclosure piston whereby the solid matter is centrally apertured.

3. In an extraction press as claimed in claim l in which said valvesinclude a valve located in the conduit means for each cylinder, eachsaid valve including a movable element and the control means adapted tocontrol operation ofsaid pistons comprising a timing mechanism includingcontinuously movable cam means for moving the respective movableelements of the respective valves so that vhydraulic fluid sequentiallyeffects plural reciprocations of said ram piston relative to the closurepiston with the closure piston closing the compression chamber, movementof said ram piston toward the closure piston with the latter held byhydraulic pressure in extended position, simultaneous movement of saidram piston and closure piston in the same direction to move the head ofthe ram piston completely through the compression chamber to dischargematter therefrom and break up discharged solid matter outside thecompression chamber and finally opposite movement of said ram piston toa position clear of the feed opening and forward movement of the closurepiston to close the compression chamber, following which the cycle ofpiston movement is repeated.

4. In an extraction press as claimed in claim 3 and in which saidcontinuously movable cam means are adjustable so that the duration ofoperation of the valves can be adjusted to effect variations in theseparate movements of the ram and closure pistons within the cycle ofoperation.

5. In an extraction press as claimed in claim l and further includingdrivable means for intermittently feeding material through said feedopening and said control means including independently driven meansoperably associated with the valves to control operation of the pistonsas to periodically and successively effect movement of said ram pistonrelative to said closure piston while the latter is held by uid pressurein a position to close the compression chamber so that the ram pistoneffects compression of matter fed into the compression chamber andextracts liquid therefrom, to thereafter move the ram piston and closurepiston simultaneously to extend the head of the ram piston completelythrough the compression chamber to discharge solid matter therefrom, tothereafter reverse movement of both pistons to move the closure pistonto a position closing the compression chamber and move the ram pistonclear of the feed opening and said independently driven ymeans includingmeans for actuating said drivable means to feed material when the rampiston vis clear of the feed opening, and to stop feeding when the rampiston commences to move toward the closure piston.

6. In an extraction press as claimed in claim and said independentlydriven means including a variable speed motor, a cam shaft driventhereby, and independent cam means carried by said cam shaft andrespectively associated with the valves for the respective pistons andthe drivable means for intermittently feeding material.

7. In an extraction unit of the nature described, an elongatedhorizontal casing means having a compacting chamber portion therein witha discharge opening at one end and a feed opening adjacent to the otherend of the chamber, means adapted to collect discharged solid matter,means associated with the casing means and adapted to collect extractedliquid, a reciprocable closure member supported coaxially ofthedischarge opening of the chamber, a reciprocable compacting membersupported coaxially of the chamber on the other side of the feed openingfrom said discharge opening, a fluid motor means adapted to move theclosure member in a direction to close said discharge opening, a uidmotor means adapted to reciprocate said compacting member relative tosaid chamber, said compacting member being longer than the portion ofthe casing that extends from said feed opening to said discharge openingand said second uid motor means being capable of moving the compactingmember towards said discharge opening a distance such as to dispose theface of said compacting member at least flush with said dischargeopening, controllable means for supplying pressure fluid to said secondmotor means to move said compacting member towards said dischargeopening while simultaneously supplying pressure uid to said first motormeans to hold said closure member stationary against the dischargeopening and against thrust exerted by said second motor means, saidcontrollable means being subsequently operable to etect simultaneousmovement of the compacting member toward the closure member andwithdrawal of the closure member from said discharge opening andmovement of said compacting member through the casing to effectdischarge of compacted material through the discharge opening by thecompacting member, and said controllable means being operable afterdischarge of material to reverse movement of both members to return theclosure member and compacting member to their original positions.

8. In an extraction unit as claimed in claim 7 and the controllablemeans for supplying pressure fluid to the respective uid motor meansincluding a source of fluid under pressure, conduit means through whichfluid flows to the respective uid motor means and from at least thesecond uid motor means, valve means for controlling the actuation of theuid motor means and a timing mechanism including continuously operablemeans for actuating the valves to effect plural reciprocations of thecompacting member relative to the closure member with the closure memberbeing held by fluid under pressure in a position to close the dischargeopening, the valves ctecting movement of the compacting member towardthe closure member with the latter still held by fluid under pressure,simultaneous movement of the compacting member and closure member in thesame direction to move the head of the compacting member completelythrough the casing to discharge solid matter therefrom and finallyopposite movement of the compacting member to a position clear of thefeed opening and forward movement of the closure member to a position toclose the discharge opening following which the cycle of movement of therespective members is repeated.

9. In an extraction unit as claimed in claim 7 and one of saidcompacting members having an axially extending bore therein extendingrearwardly from its head and the other of said members having a rodextending forwardly thereof and said rod being reciprocable in the saidbore whereby the solid matter is centrally apertured.

l0. In an extraction press as claimed in claim 7 and said respectivecompacting and closure members each including a piston portion, saidrespective piston portions constituting part of the respective uid motormeans and the piston portion of the closure member having smallercross-sectional area than the piston portion of the compacting member,whereby when both members are subjected to the same hydraulic pressure,the closure member will be forced away from the discharge opening by therelatively greater pressure of the compacting member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.18,287 Ernst Dec. l5, 1931 530,914 Swenson Dec. 11, 1894 1,135,309Meakin Apr. 13, 1915 1,213,171 Erfurth Jan. 23, 1917 1,256,451 Ensign etal Feb. 12, 1918 1,336,171 Trace Apr. 6, 1920 1,726,373 VoightlanderAug. 27, 1929 1,745,707 Perrett Feb. 4, 1930 1,805,367 King May 12, 19311,884,060 MacMillan Oct. 25, 1932 1,994,181 Simon Mar. 12, 19352,055,697 Molin Sept. 29, 1936 2,422,895 Habenicht June 24, 19472,462,815 Sedgewick Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 491,581 Great BritainNov. 30, 1936 803,860 Germany Apr. 12, 1951 881,404 France Apr. 23, 1943922,227 France Jan. 27, 1947

